Ila V. Varner

Ila V. Varner, age 78, passed into her beautiful heavenly home and beautiful heavenly journey, with her heavenly Father, and Savior, on Monday, May 27, 2019, departing from Augusta Nursing and Rehab. Center, where she received excellent care, and where much gratitude, thanks, and appreciation, are to be acknowledged. She was born infant daughter to Mamie and Walter McMillian, in Wards Gap, Virginia, and grew up in Hillsville, Virginia, in Carroll County. She later moved to Fishersville, Virginia, to pursue nurse’s aide training. During this time, she met the “one and only true love”, of her life, Kenneth Varner, who became her husband of 29 years, until he passed, into heaven. She was a wife, mom, and granny, and taught by word and example. She grew up in the Brethren Church, and was an inactive member of Fishersville Baptist Church. Ila had many rough journeys, trials, and health issues, in her lifetime, including anxiety, anger, and depression, which she acknowledged. She was and is, a child of God, and Christian, by her verbal confession, of having, Jesus, in her heart, by invitation. She grew close to the Holy Spirit, within the last year. She stated, “By my faith, in Jesus, I am healed!”. God cleansed her and healed and sustained her, dramatically, four separate times, in the last year, and receives all praise and glory, and also for working in and through many physicians, surgeons, nurses, at Augusta Health, I.C.U, V.C.U, Amedisys Home Health, Palliative Care, Waynesboro Carilion's physicians and nurses, and physical therapists, daily care workers, and so many others, including faithful prayer warriors. Her journey, with her daughter, was also full of beautiful memories, trials, errors, and even a year and half of a strained relationship. God’s “healing power”, and “restoration”, cleansed, restored, and renewed this relationship, to the status of peaceful blessed bonding, and being a blessing. She exhibited happiness, charm, and exuberance! She had the teaching testimony of never smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, doing illegal drugs, or over using prescription drugs. She enjoyed bible study, television pastors and sermons, family photos, fellowshipping, comedies, W.H.S.V 6 p.m. news, 102.9 F.M. (K-love) Radio Station, large print word finds, and especially hugs from her two grandsons, and playing “Go-Fish”, with them, and talking on the phone with her brother, and friends. She is preceded in death by siblings Alene, Carrie Bell, Lester, Rush, and many extended relatives. Surviving to cherish her awesome, unique memory, are only child, Phyllis Olson-Leake, son-in-law, Howard Leake, (whom she stated was the “son she never had!”), adored grandsons, Kenneth (Buddy) Olson, and Jonathan Leake, and also two cherished brothers, Marvin McMillian and Glenn Bradley and many extended family members. Family night, with open casket, casual or dress attire, will be on Monday, June 3, 2019 at Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes of Staunton from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A graveside service with open sharing, casual or dress attire, will take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Oaklawn Memory and Mausoleum Garden, Staunton. A pre-announced sharing memorial and fellowship, will take place in the future. All condolences may be mailed to the family, at P.O. Box 805, Waynesboro, VA 22980, or shared online at www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes of Staunton.